Folding stand



Oct. 30, 1945. B. STECHBART FOLDING STAND Filed-May 22, 1944 INVENTUR Patented Oct. 30, 1945 l FOLDING STAND Bruno Stechbart, Park Ridge, 111., assignor to The Bell & Howell Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 22, 1944, Serial No. 536,746 4 Claims. (01. 248 166) I My invention relates particularly to a folding stand which is adapted for supporting picture projectors while projecting pictures.

Objects of my invention reside in the provision stand well adapted for supporting picture projectors while projecting pictures, which is compactly collapsible, which provides a closure for the collapsible support means thereof, which provides adequate height of the stand without necessitating the stand when collapsed being of undesirably large size, which permits of the closure thereof being in the form of a carrying case for convenient portability, and which provides a useful shelf below the top of the stand. The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a folding stand embodying my invention and in extended stand forming condition;

Figure 2 is an end elevationof the same; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the stand in partially collapsed condition; s Figure 4 is a perspective View of the stand in extended stand forming condition; I Figure 5 is a perspective view of the stand in partially collapsed condition; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the stand in fully collapsed condition in which it is conven iently portable. I Referring to the drawing, a closure comprises two separable closure members, generally designated respectively at I and 2, of which the closure member I comprises an elongated rectangular wall 3 and narrow side walls 4 and 5 respectively at the narrow and long sides of the wall 3,

and of which the closure member 2 similarly comprises an elongated rectangular wall 6 of the same dimensions as the wall 3 and narrow side walls 'I and 8 respectively at the narrow and long in closure forming relation, and carrying handles I2 are secured at the intermediate portionsof registering walls 5 and 8 at the long sides of the walls v3 and 6 so that the closure may be conveniently carried. f I I I 7 Three leg members,generally designated I3, each comprises two longitudinal leg parts I4 and I5 of equal length and pivotally connected together by means of hinges I ,6 for movement of the leg parts of each leg member to and from extending leg part alined and leg part folded relation. The leg members I3 are pivotally, connected at corresponding ends thereofby means of hinges H with thewallfi of the closure member 2 within the side walls 1 and 8 thereof, and two of the leg members are so pivotally connected on and spaced along one axis in the region of and extending along one narrow side I of the closure member 2 and the third leg member is so pivotally connected on a second axis parallel to said one axis in the region of and extending along the other narrow side 1 of the closure member 2 and is disposed intermediate the said two leg members longitudinally of said axes. The leg members I3 are also correspondingly pivotally connected at their other ends by means of. hinges I8 with the wall 3 of the closure member I within the side walls 4 and 5 thereof on axes parallel to the axes of the pivotal connections of the leg members with the closure member 2, and the axes of the pivotal connections between theleg parts I4 and I5-are parallel to the axes'of the pivotal connections of the leg members I3 with the closure members I and 2. g I

The leg members I 3, as so constructed and connected with the closure members I and 2, provide sure forming relation as shown in Figure 6 for convenient portability ofthe stand in compactly collapsed condition.

The leg members I3, respectively pivotally connected with the closure members I and 2 in the regions of theopposite narrow sides of the opposite walls 3 and 6 of the closure members, collapse or fold toward each other in interleaved relation, as best shown in Figures 3 and 5 which show the stand in partially collapsed condition, thus promoting compactness while providing adequate height of the stand, it being observed that the T "OFFICE lation to so maintain the same, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, and the strut member is pivotal'ly connected by hinges 2| with the leg parts 44 of the two leg members I3 which are pivotally con-Q nected with the closure member 2 on and spaced along an axis in the region one narrow side of the wall 6 of the closure member-2 and which are correspondingly pivotally connected with the closure member I, and the strut member is so pivotally connected with these two leg members-on an axis extending torre'spondingly'with 'the pl-ane of the strut member and parallel to the axes of the pivotal connections or the leg members -with the walls 3 and e of the closure members and to the axes of the pivotal connections between the leg parts l4 and *for movement cf the strut member to and from extending relation wi th these two leg members and compactly foldedrelation therewith within the closure comprisi ng the closure members l and 2, theifolded relation or the strut inemberbeing best-shown in Figures 3 and 5. The Strut Inein'b'ei' I9 isiprevided'with'anopning -'2-2 extending inwardly fro'm the end the-reoi in the region or its pivotal "axis which openm alined with said thi-rd of the leg members I3 f Or the passage of this leg member there-through in the movement of the leg mein ber s.

A releasable positioning device comprising 'a lug 2-3 and acoo-perating 'sfiring latch meinber 2-4, respectively mounted-on'the a" dining portions "of the leg parts I'd-and "I' l of the sai-dthird legmenpber 1-3, engage the free end of the strut member i9 to releasably seeurethe strut member ln its position extending no operative between the intermediate portions for the leg members -13 to maintain the leg members extending leg part alined stand forming ositions-as shown-in Fig ures 1 and 2.

, While I have thus'described my invention, 1 do not wish to be limited to the precise details desc-ribed, as "changes may be readily madew i thout departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent the following: i v l 1. In a folding stand, the combination of a 2,388,192 f. 1; 2, a. I

leg member comprising two longitudinal leg parts of equal length pivotally connected together on an axis parallel to said first mentioned axes for movement to and from extending leg part alined stand forming positions and collapsed leg part folded positions within said closure.

2. In a folding stand, the combination of a closurecomprising two separable closure members forming opposite vwalls oi the closure, collapsible support means operative between said closure members to maintain said closure members in separated relation to form a stand of which said walls respectively form the top and base thereof and comprising atleast two leg members pivotallel axes and said leg members being correclosure comprising tivo separable closure members 'form'ing opposite walls 'of the closure, "and collapsible support means operative between said closure members to maintain *s'aid closure memhere in separated relation to form a stand of which said walls respectively form the top "and base thereof and comprising three leg member's pivotally connected at corresponding ends thereof spondingly pivotal'ly connected at their other ends with the other of said closure members on axes parallel to said first mentioned axes and being offset along said axes and "each leg member'c'o'mp'rising two longitudi-na'l'le'g parts "of equal length pivotally connected together on an axis parallel to said first mentio ed axes for movement to and from'extehdin'g'leg part alined stand forming positions and co'llapsedle'g part folded positions within said, closure, and 'a s'trut 'member extendable and operative between the intermediate portions of said legm'emloers when they are in said extending leg par t alined positions to so maintainthe same and pivotally connected with one of said leg member's intermediate ly of this leg member on an axis parallel to said first mentioned axes for movement to and from 7 extending. relation with said one leg member and folded relation therewith within said closure.

3. In a folding stand, the combination of a closure comprising two separable closure members forming opposite walls of the closure, collapsible support means operative. between 'said closure members to maintain said closure :members in separated relationto form a stand of which said walls respectively form the top and base thereof and comprising three leg members pivotally connected at corresponding ends thereof with one of said 'closure'members zan'd ofwhich two of said leg members are 550 ipivota-lly connected on and spaced along one axis and the third of said leg members is so .pivotally connected on a second axis parallel to said one axis and is disposed intermediate "said two' leg members longitudinally of said axes =and"-said leg members being correspondingly pivotally 'c'onnected-at theirother ends with "the other of-said closure mem-bersl n axes parallel to said first mentioned axes and 'each leg member-comprising two longitudinal leg parts of equal length pivotally connected together "on an ax is parallel to said first mentioned axes ifor movemen to and from extending iegpart alined stand forming positions and collapsed rlegmart folded positions within said'elosure, and a stri timember extendable and :oper-ative between "the intermediate portions oi'said leg mem ers when they are in said extending le'g partaline'dpositions to so maintain the same and ewe-any connected with said two leg members in' termediatelyof -'these leg members on an axis parallel to said first *mentiunedaxes fer movementito and from "extendin relatien with these leg members and folded relation therewith 'within'said-closure and said strut member being provided with an opening extending inwardly from the end thereof. "in the region of its pivotal axis and alined Withsai'd third leg member for the passage of this leg member therethrough.

4. In a folding stand, the combination of a closure comprising two separable closure members forming elongated rectangular opposite walls of the closure, collapsible support means operative between said closure members to maintain said closure members in separated relation to form a stand of which said walls respectively form the top and base thereof and comprising three leg members pivotally connected at corresponding ends thereof with one of said closure members and of which two of said leg members are so pivotally connected on and spaced along one axis in the region of and extending along one narrow side of the said wall of said closure member and the third of said leg members is so pivotally connected on a second axis parallel to said one axis and in the region of and extending along the other narrow side of the said wall of said one closure member and is disposed intermediate said two leg members longitudinally of said axes and said leg members being correspondingly pivotally connected at their other ends with the other of said closure members on axes parallel to said first mentioned axes and each leg member comprising two longitudinal leg parts of equal length pivotally connected together on an axis parallel to said first mentioned axes for movement to and from extending leg part alined stand forming positions and collapsed leg part folded positions within said closure, and a fiat shelf forming strut member extendable and operative between the intermediate portions of said leg members when they are in extending leg part alined stand forming positions to so maintain the same and pivotally connected with said two leg members intermediately of these leg members on an axis extending correspondingly with the plane of said strut member and parallel to said first mentioned axes for movement to and from extending relation with these BRuNo STECHBART. 

